Car Tech Worth Fitting: Dash Cams, Head-Up Displays and Smart Cabin Gadgets

Most car gadgets end up in the glovebox within a fortnight. The ones that stick are the ones that solve a problem you have every single drive — proof of what happened at an intersection, speed you can read without looking down, a car that starts on a cold Tuesday morning. Our interior accessories range is full of the kind that actually stick around.

This is a guide to that second category. No novelty, no clutter, just the cabin tech that genuinely earns its place.

Jump to: Dash cams · Head-up displays · Emergency power · Small upgrades · FAQ

Dash cams: the one piece of tech nobody regrets

Ask any Australian driver who has been rear-ended at a roundabout and they will tell you the same thing. A dash cam turns a he-said-she-said insurance claim into a two-minute conversation.

The specs that matter are simpler than the marketing suggests. You want clear number plate capture at speed, reliable loop recording, and parking mode if your car sits on the street. Resolution beyond that is mostly bragging rights.

Front-only is enough for most people. Add a rear channel if you park in tight city streets or do a lot of highway driving where tailgating is the risk.

70mai A510 Dash Cam, Front & Rear

Head-up displays: eyes up, speed visible

A HUD projects your speed onto the windscreen so you read it without dropping your eyes to the cluster. In stop-start traffic and school zones, that half-second matters more than it sounds.

There are two kinds worth knowing. GPS-based units work in almost any car and just need power. Model-specific screens integrate more deeply and add functions your car may not have from the factory.

GPS Head-Up Display Windshield Speedometer9.6-Inch Tesla HUD Display with CarPlay

Emergency power: the boot item you hope you never open

Flat batteries do not announce themselves. They happen at the campsite, the boat ramp, or the supermarket carpark at 8pm — usually somewhere jumper leads and a friendly stranger are in short supply.

A portable jump starter removes that dependency entirely. Modern lithium units are the size of a paperback and double as a phone power bank, which is why they end up being used far more often than expected.

600A Portable Jump Starter Power Bank

Charge it every few months. A jump starter that has sat flat in the boot since last winter is just a heavy brick.

Small upgrades that punch above their weight

Not every worthwhile gadget is a headline item. Some of the best ones cost little and quietly fix a daily irritation.

Boot lighting is the classic example. Factory boot lamps are dim and badly placed, which makes loading gear after dark harder than it needs to be.

USB Rechargeable Magnetic LED Boot Light

A phone mount is the other non-negotiable. Navigation from a phone in your lap is both illegal and genuinely dangerous, and a good mount makes the habit effortless.

360° Magnetic Vacuum Suction Phone Holder

And for anyone who spends real hours behind the wheel — tradies, long-haul drivers, road trippers — a 12V heater turns a rest stop into a proper cuppa.

12V/24V Car Electric Water Heater

What to fit first, and what can wait

If you are building up from nothing, order matters. Safety and evidence first, comfort second, novelty last.

Good car tech disappears into the drive. You stop noticing it, right up until the morning it saves you a claim, a tow truck or a fine. Browse the full CarMoods range when you are ready to build your setup.

Frequently Asked Questions